Sectional ski

ABSTRACT

A sectional ski disengagably connectable together in a boot support region wherein a ski boot is supported, the engaging mechanism including a necked-down plug portion of one section of ski inescapably captured in a conforming pocket recess disposed in the other ski section while a ski boot is supported on the boot support region even without the use of safety keepers passing through aligned bores in the overlapped portions of the engaging mechanism.

United States Patent Shun-got et a1.

[ Mar. 19, 1974 SECTIONAL SKI [76] Inventors: John M. Shurgot, 22312Marjorie Ave., Torrance, Calif. 90505; Roy D. Ruebel, 15209 Prarie Ave.,Msn anfisesbs ,Qslifi 089 [22] Filed: Aug. 4, 1972 [21] Appl. No.:278,018

[52] US. Cl. 280/11.13 K [51] Int. Cl A63c 5/02 [58] Field of Search280/11.13 K; 9/310 C; 287/20.92 T, 64

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,545,209 3/1951 Meehan280/11.13 K 2,590,991 4/1952 McDonald.... 287/20.92 T X 792,979 6/1905Fulghum 287/20.92 T X 2,157,456 5/1939 Koyemann 287/20.92 T 3,537,04310/1970 Smith 287/64 X 3,000,658 9/1961 Sprouse 287/64 X 2,530,13611/1950 VanSteenbrugghe 287/64 3.596918 8/1971 Masuda 280/1 1.13 K

FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 837,166 11/1938 France 280/1 1.13 K29,357 1/1919 Norway 280/11.13 K 223,975 10/1942 Switzerland...280/11.l3 K 80,233 5/1952 Norway 280/1 1.13 K

OTHER PUBLICATIONS How to Join Wood Science Illustrated, Dec. 1948.

Primary Examiner-Kenneth H. Betts Assistant ExaminerDavid M. MitchellAttorney, Agent, or Firm-John I-Ioltrichter, Jr.

[5 7] ABSTRACT 2 Claims, 10 Drawing Figures SECTIONAL SKI BACKGROUND OFTHE INVENTION The background of the invention will be set forth in twoparts.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention pertains generally to thefield of sporting equipment and more particularly to the field of skiswhich may be disassembled.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART Skis, in one form or another, have beenused for hundreds of years for transporting objects and persons overdifficult terrain such as snow and ice. Skis generally take the form ofelongated and relatively thin flat members having an up-curved forwardtip. A ski used to transport a person standing thereon is also providedwith a ski boot supporting region essentially located midway between theends of the ski, and straps or a binding is mounted in this region tohold the skiers boot in place on the ski.

Over the years, it has been apparent that although the relatively longlength of such skis is necessary in order to provide an efficient meansof transportation, the length of the skis presents obviously seriousspace problems when they are not being used. These problems have lead tomany varied solutions, including skis provided with hinges to allowfolding, and also disassembleable skis having two or more separable skisections.

In the latter category, many techniques have been developed that allow aski to be broken down into a shorter, more easily stored and transportedconfiguration. One such technique uses a conventional tonguein-groovejunction with bolts passing through bores in abutting sections in orderto hold the ski together when being used. In another scheme, a throwclamp mechanism comprising a horizontal'pin mounted in one section isengaged and held by notched arms of a toggle operated pivoted levermounted on another ski section. This system is faster operatinb but hasthe disadvantage of requiring many relatively fragile parts and it mustreside in a recess in the upper surface of the ski, which recess has atendency to fill with snow and water and become unaccessible and therebyinoperative when, as is often the case, the ice or water becomes frozen.Thus, it should be evident that a new and improved technique forcoupling ski sections together that overcomes the disadvantages of theprior art would constitute a significant advancement of the art.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In view of the foregoing factors and conditionscharacteristic of the prior art, it is a primary object of the presentinvention to provide a new and improved sectional ski.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a sectional skithat does not require bolts or other safety retaining members or keepersand that cannot come apart while in use.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a simple,rugged and dependable sectional ski that has essentially continuousplanar upper and lower surfaces at the ski section junction.

According to the present invention, a sectional ski is provided havingfirst and second ski sections with abutting ends in a boot supportingregion of the ski, the region having a planar boot supporting surfaceand a lower planar skiing surface.

The sectional ski also includes coupling means associated with the skisections for releasably engaging the ski sections together and forallowing the disengagement of the ski sections only when the bootsupporting surface is not supporting a ski boot. The coupling meansincludes a plug portion extending beyond the abutting end of the firstski section, the plug portion including a necked down width dimensionadjacent the abutting end and having a lower surface above the planarskiing surface. The coupling means also has a socket portion adjacentthe abutting end of the second ski section, the upper surface of theplug and socket portions being a portion of the aforementioned bootsupporting surface.

The socket portion includes a pocket recess in its upper surface whichrecess communicates with the abutting end of the second ski section, thepocket recess conforming to the shape of and accepting fully the plugportion.

The features of the present invention which are believed to be novel asset forth with particularity in the appended claims. The presentinvention, both as to its organization and manner of operation, togetherwith further objects and advantages thereof, may best be understood bymaking reference to the following description, taken in conjunction withthe accompanying drawing in which like reference characters refer tolike elements in the several views.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is a side view of a sectionalski constructed in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged perspective view of a ski boot supporting regionof the sectional ski of FIG. 1, showing the ski sections separated fromeach other;

FIG. 3 is a sectional representation of the boot supporting region ofthe sectional ski seen in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 illustrates in perspective an elongated keeper bolt that may beutilized in the coupling arrangement of the invention;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a coupling arrangement for a sectionalski constructed in accordance with another embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIGS. 6 and 7 are perspective views of mating ski coupling arrangementsin accordance with yet another embodiment of the present invention;

FIGS. 8 and 9 are sectional views of the coupling arrangementsillustrated in FIGS. 6 and 7, taken respectively along lines 8 and 9thereof; and

FIG. 10 is a sectional illustration showing the coupling arrangements,mounted in their respective ski sections, coupled together to form acomplete ski with planar upper and lower surfaces.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to the drawing andmore particularly to FIGS. 1-3, there is shown a sectional ski 11including a first ski section 13 and a second ski section 15, the skiski sections having respective abutting ends 17 and 19. The abuttingends are located in a boot supporting region, generally designated byarrow 21, and the region has a planar boot supporting surface 23 with aconventional ski boot binding arrangement 22, and a lower planar skiingsurface 25. Coupling means 27 is associated with the ski sections 17 and19 for releasably engaging the ski sections together and for allowingthe disengagement of these sections only when the ski boot supportingsurface 23 is not supporting a ski boot, not shown.

The coupling means 27 includes a plug portion 29 that extends from theabutting end 17 of the first ski section 13, the plug portion includinga necked down width dimension section 31 immediately adjacent theabutting end 17 and having a relatively larger body sec tion 32extending from the section 31, and a lower surface 33 above the planarskiing surface 25, clearly shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. The coupling means 27also includes a socket portion 35 adjacent the abutting end 19 of thesecond ski section 15. As can be seen from the figures, the uppersurfaces of the plug and socket portions are co-extensive with and apart of the boot supporting surface 23.

The socket portion 35 has a socket recess 37 in its upper surface 23,which recess communicates with the abutting end 19 of the second skisection 15. It can be seen that the recess 37 also has a lower wall 38and a necked-down width dimension section 39 immediately adjacent theend 19 and has a relatively larger recess section 41 communicating withthe section 39. The dimensions of the plug and socket portions arechosen so that they conform in shape and size to each other to allow theplug portions 29 to slidably fit into and be totally accepted by andcaptured in the socket portion 35.

The plug and socket portions may be integrally formed as part of theassociated ski section, or these portions may be fabricated from asuitably strong synthetic, metal or natural occurring material. In thecase of the latter configuration, the plug portion 29 has a firsthorizontal tongue portion 42 sandwiched and bolted in a first conforminggroove 43 in the end 17 of the first ski section 13. In a similarmanner, the socket portion 35 is provided with a second horizontaltongue portion 45 bonded within a second conforming groove 47 in thesecond ski section 15. Any suitable bonding material and technique maybe employed, and other suitable attachment means such as counter sunkbolts, for example, may be used to permanently secure the plug andsocket portions to their respective ski sections.

To assemble the ski sections 13 and 15 of the sectional ski 11 startingfrom the disassembled configuration of FIG. 2, the necked down and bodysections 31, 32 of the plug portion 29 are positioned directly above theconforming necked down and larger recess sections 39, 41 of the socketportions pocket recess 37 before lowering the former into the latter.This step provides the continuous upper and lower planar engagedconfiguration illustrated in FIG. 3. Due to the unique necked downsections of the plug and socket portions in this engaged relationship,the ski sections cannot move away from each other along theirlongitudinal axis or move laterally with respect to each other. Also,the plug portion 20 cannot move further in a downward direction becauseof the sockets lower wall 38 limiting the travel of the plugs lowersurface 33. In fact, the only manner in which the two ski sections maybe uncoupled is to vertically lift the plug portion from the socketportion, but this can be accomplished only when the ski boot is notbeing supported on a planar boot supporting surface 23 of the bootsupporting region 21. In other words, in order to separate the skisections 13 and 15, the skier must first release his ski boot from thebinding arrangement 22 and lift the boot from the surface 23 before theplug portion 29 can be lifted from engagement with the mating socketportion 35.

As an added safety feature of the invention, the coupling means 27 mayfurther include axially aligned bores 49, 51 and 53, 55 in the plug andsocket portions 29 and 35, respectively, and conventional elongatedkeeper bolts and nuts (not shown) disposed in these bores. Altemately,the bores 49, 51 and 53, 55 may be machined to provide narrow slots 57on opposite sides of and communicating with the bores. Also, the outerend 59 of the bores 53, 55 in the socket portion 35 may be machined toprovide narrow shallow indentations or depressions 61 disposed onopposite sides of and communicating with the bores 53, 55. A specialkeeper 63 having a head 65 and a transverse pin end 67 and illustratedin FIG. 4 may then be inserted through the bores 53, 55 and 49, 51 withthe pin end 67 being moved toward the outer end 59 of the bores. Toengage the keeper 63, the head 65 is pushed inwardly by a conventionaldriver tool engaging the keepers drive socket 69 and against the bias ofthe washer retained coil spring 71 to cause the pin end to protrudebeyond the outer end 59. The keeper is then rotated degrees and theinward pressure on the tool is removed so that the pin end 67 is thencaptured in the depressions 61. Of course, the opposite end of the boresare countersunk to accommodate the tapered side walls of the keepershead 65. For the sake of simplicity, only one bore set 51, 55 isillustrated in FIG. 2 with the special keeper configuration.

In accordance with still a further embodiment of the present invention,there is shown in FIG. 5 first and second ski sections 81 and 83provided with plug and socket portions 85 and 87, respectively, whichportions are structurally and operationally similar to the firstdescribed plug and socket portions 29 and 35, except that instead of therectangular side walls 89 and 91 of the latter constructions, the planview silhouette of this latest described embodiment is continuouslycurved, and preferably essentially circular, as identified generally byarrow 93.

With reference to FIGS. 6 and 7, there is illustrated yet anotherembodiment of the present invention. Here there is shown a first skicoupling arrangement 101 having a wedge shaped plug portion 103extending beyond an abutting end wall 105 and having a tongue portion107 with traverse slots 109 across its outer surfaces 111. The plugportion 103 registers with and is insertable into a socket portion 1 13in a second ski coupling arrangement having an abutting end wall 117 anda tongue portion 119 with slots 121, similar to the tongue portion 107.

Sectional views of the ski coupling arrangements clearly illustratingthe socket and plug portions are shown in FIGS. 8 and 9. Upstandingtubular portions 123 are seen in a lower surface 125 of the socketportion 113, these portions including elongated threaded holes 127centrally disposed therein. Conforming recesses 129 are provided in thelower surface 131 of the plug portion 103, the recesses communicatingwith cylindrical holes 133 leading to the counter-sinks 135 at the plugsupper surface 137.

The sectional views of FIGS. 8-10 further show that the inner side walls139 of the socket portion 113 may be inclined at a relatively smallangle, such as 5, for example, for ease of manufacture when using amolding process. Likewise, the side walls 141 of the plug portion 103are provided with a conformed incline so that when these ski couplingarrangements are brought together as illustrated in the sectional viewof FIG. 10, a tight but non-binding fit is provided. This figure alsoshows that the ski coupling arrangements may be additionally securedtogether by conventional flat head machine screws 143, extending throughthe holes 133 and threadably engaging the threaded holes 127 in theupstanding portions 123. However, it is to be noted that the pressure ofthe ski boot in a suitable binding on the co-planar upper surfaces 137and 144 of the coupling arrangements will prevent the decoupling of thecoupling arrangements.

FIG. 10 further illustrates the integral-like connection of the skicoupling arrangements 101 and 115, the respective tongue portions 107and 119 being bonded within conforming flat slots 145 and 14-7 in thefirst and second ski sections 149 and 151, respectively. Any suitablebonding agent for the materials involved, such as epoxy cement 152, forexample, may be utilized along the abutting surfaces and in the slots109 and 121. Additionally, holes 153 and 155 in respective tongueportions 107 and 119 may be provided to allow communication of thebonding agent through the tongue portions. Of course, holes may beprovided in appropriate positions of the individual ski sections thatregister with the holes 153 and 155 so that conventional boltingarrangements may be used in order to secure the coupling arrangements tothese ski sections.

From the foregoing, it should be evident that a very advantageous andnovel sectional ski structure has been described which significantlyadvances the art. It should also be understood that the materials usedin fabricating the invention as herein described, are not critical andany material generally considered suitable for a particular function maybe utilized. For example, the ski sections may be fabricated from woodor synthetic materials or metals such as aluminum and steel, and thecoupling means and arrangements may also be fabricated from a strong butlightweight metal such as aluminum, for example, or other metals andmetal alloys and synthetic materials may be used for this purpose. Also,any conventional process may be used to fabricate the coupling means andarrangements. For example, the embodiment of the invention illustratedin FIGS. 6-10 may be cast from aluminum or an aluminum alloy.

Although a limited number of embodiments of the invention have beendescribed in detail, it should be realized that modifications and otherembodiments incorporating the inventive features, may be constructed.Accordingly, it is intended that the foregoing disclosure and drawingsshall be considered only as illustrations of the principles of thisinvention.

What is claimed is:

l. A sectional ski having a ski boot supporting region, comprising:

first and second ski sections having abutting ends in the bootsupporting region, said region having a planar boot supporting surfaceand a lower planar skiing surface;

coupling means associated with said ski sections for releasably engagingsaid ski sections together and for allowing the disengagement of saidski sections only when said boot supporting surface is not supporting aski boot, said coupling means including a plug portion extending beyondthe abutting end of the first ski section, said plug portion including anecked down width dimension adjacent said abutting end and having alower surface above said planar skiing surface, said coupling means alsoincluding a socket portion adjacent the abutting end of said secondsection, the upper surface of said plug and socket portions being aportion of said boot supporting surface, said socket portion including apocket recess in its said upper surface and communicating with saidabutting end of said second ski section and conforming to the shape andfully accepting said plug portion, said plug and socket portionsincluding horizontally extending tongue portions disposed in appropriateslots in said ski sections, said tongue portions lying in a planeintermediate said boot supporting and skiing surfaces, said socketportion including two upstanding tubular members with threaded holescentered in the top thereof, said plug portion including cylindricalrecesses in its said lower surface disposed and dimensioned to acceptsaid upstanding tubular members and also including holes therethroughwith vertical axes coaxial with the axes of said recesses and adapted toreceive machine screws therethrough threaded into said threaded holes.

2. The sectional ski according to claim 1, wherein the side walls ofsaid pocket recess and that portion of said plug portion positionabletherein are vertically inclined at a relatively shallow angle ofapproximately 5.

1. A sectional ski having a ski boot supporting region, comprising:first and second ski sections having abutting ends in the bootsupporting region, said region having a planar boot supporting surfaceand a lower planar skiing surface; coupling means associated with saidski sections for releasably engaging said ski sections together and forallowing the disengagement of said ski sections only when said bootsupporting surface is not supporting a ski boot, said coupling meansincluding a plug portion extending beyond the abutting end of the firstski section, said plug portion including a necked down width dimensionadjacent said abutting end and having a lower surface above said planarskiing surface, said coupling means also including a socket portionadjacent the abutting end of said second section, the upper surface ofsaid plug and socket portions being a portion of said boot supportingsurface, said socket portion including a pocket recess in its said uppersurface and communicating with said abutting end of said second skisection and conforming to the shape and fully accepting said plugportion, said plug and socket portions including horizontally extendingtongue portions disposed in appropriate slots in said ski sections, saidtongue portions lying in a plane intermediate said boot supporting andskiing surfaces, said socket portion including two upstanding tubularmembers with threaded holes centered in the top thereof, said plugportion including cylindrical recesses in its said lower surfacedisposed and dimensioned to accept said upstanding tubular members andalso including holes therethrough with vertical axes coaxial with theaxes of said recesses and adapted to receive machine screws therethroughthreaded into said threaded holes.
 2. The sectional ski according toclaim 1, wherein the side walls of said pocket recess and that portionof said plug portion positionable therein are vertically inclined at arelatively shallow angle of approximately 5*.